Nowness?

Ceci Mourkogiannis

In an article titled, 'Marketing to the Millennials', the New York Times heralded the arrival of yet another fashion-powerhouse's attempt to cultivate the digital landscape for the purposes of reaching Generation-Z. Nowness.com is LVMH Moet Hennessy's answer to the ever-blurring divide between fashion, culture and the internet. 

I'm not going to lie, at the beginning I fostered a vaguely welcoming attitude towards The 'Nowness'. Everyday, the editors of Nowness post a single addition to their aesthetically pleasing collection that combines the various commercial arts. There's a video of Lily Donaldson waving her luscious locks around in slow-mo for about an hour which is curiously entertaining, there's a 'film noir' style short featuring Miss Deyn and some token cultural nods to 'Abstract Art' and Balzac chucked in for the fun of it. 

But look a little closer, and you'll see that Nowness isn't so much about acting as a forum for visually-pleasing niceties...it's more about good old fashion brand marketing. While you're being hypnotised by a waif-like model whirling around to trance-music, notice that you're being sold Rodarte's latest collection. When you're admiring black&white portraits of a darling family from France, just keep an eye on the fact that the Tod's logo is hovering around somewhere in the not-so-distance. 

Now, I haven't necessarily made my mind up about Nowness quite yet but I do think that it gives an indication of where the big-brands will be splashing their marketing cash in the near future. 

The Worst Song Ever/I Heart Santo Cilauro

Hugh Pickering

I am both disappointed, and in love.

Disappointed, because having previously thought i had discovered the worst (and therefore greatest) song in existence, i just found out it is a spoof. However, i am now in love with its creator - Santo Cilauro. Australian comedian/film producer/author/multi-media genius, Cilauro wrote Molvania; A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry). Watch it. Learn the words. I hope to God somebody makes a ''Elektronik Supersonik for Number 1 !!!!!'' Facebook group about this.....

5...4...3...1...OFFBLAST!

Bastard pop

Margot Hauer King

I’m never usually one to have a raging moral compass when it comes to giving the ‘correct’ appraisal and credit with music – let’s be honest, the majority of current artists do not write a word or note of their songs. But there is one area that really pushes all the wrong buttons – Mash-ups. They can be terrible, of course, but there is a surprising amount of truly brilliant mash-up pieces out there. Yet never, ever, are they credited to the… masher upper. I feel it is an incredibly under-appreciated art form and one that deserves a lot more recognition – but to the correct people. These masher uppers have to first choose appropriate songs, then with some magical flick of a wand, meld them together into what is sometimes, a better version of the original. I find it hard to imagine Jaz-Z and The Verve spent hours together toiling over their mash up, Bittersweet Dirt off my Shoulder, but someone definitely did. Whoever these, I believe, genius’ are, should stand up and take some credit for their blooming marvellous creations. 

A personal favourite:

Pulling a Fast One...

Natasha Kingham

A round of applause for Mark Fast, who once again pushed the boundaries of clothing and convention by sending plus-size models down the catwalk.

There is hope.

Spike Jonze, Absolut and 14BikeCo.

Knez Rza

A little late notice but there you go

Jena.Theo 2010

Ceci Mourkogiannis

Last year, London College of Fashion graduates Jenny Holmes and Dimitris Theocharidis took home the highly coveted 2009 Fashion Fringe, Covent Garden title with their Jena.Theo line of draped+folded+geometric casual wear. One year on and their Spring/Summer 2010 collection is gracing the catwalks of London Fashion Week to a packed-out crowd, eager to see what the future of fashion will hold. Taking inspiration from wildly divergent sources - from the French Resistance to 3D animation - the collection managed to remain coherent and focused. Check out the Jena.Theo website for more information: Jena.Theo 

Sounds of the soul

Alexander R Kardeş-Kaliszewski

To many, the phrase 'alternative style of living' conjures emotions of fear and panic. Such 'alternative' movements can seem far removed from our modern realities and even perhaps frightening. Dance and collective expression of music such as Fire&Love with Zanko are very close to the roots of our present music culture and indeed I believe come close to reconnecting with a past traditional culture almost lost in modern society. I am not one to take unquestioned preaching for a way of life considered ideal but I do recognize the art and beauty in musical expression beyond that of the popular media we are exposed to routinely.  I hope you to can find some peace and inspiration in the sounds of Fire&Love.

Les queues de sardines...

Ceci Mourkogiannis

If you're sick of depleting M&S's stocks of bland, black opaque tights and you just can't stand wearing leggings for another three months... then 'Les Queues de Sardines' is the name to watch. This latest Parisian import is (literally) knocking the socks off of every calve-temperature-conscious fashionista and causing a graphical revolution in stocking-chic. Adorned with printed gun-holders, fish-scales and eye-balls, this brand is not for the faint-hearted. But if you're willing to 'go out on a limb' (apologies), you might just find that going all-cartoony is the best decision you've made this year...

The March 18 Movement

Ceci Mourkogiannis

While we here at Libertine are free to blog our hearts out, many young bloggers across the world are risking prosecution for voicing their opinions online.

"The March 18 Movement was born out of a tragedy. On this day in 2009, Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, Iranian blogger and journalist, died in Evin Prison in Tehran. Each March 18 from now on will stand as a day of memorial to Omid and to all the innocents he represents. We must unite to make March 18 the definitive day for commemorating the risks taken by bloggers around the world to tell their stories."

http://www.march18.org/

Libel Flaws

Arjun Hassard

English libel laws have been condemned by the UN Human Rights Committee.

These laws gag scientists, bloggers and journalists who want to discuss matters of genuine public interest - particularly public health.

Our laws give rise to libel tourism, whereby the rich and the powerful (Saudi billionaires, Russian oligarchs and overseas corporations) come to London to sue writers because English libel laws are so hostile to responsible journalism.

Vested interests can use their resources to bully and intimidate those who seek to question them. The cost of a libel trial in England is 100 times more expensive than the European average and typically runs to over £1 million.

In short, English libel law imposes unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on free speech.

If you value liberty of information I urge you to sign this.

http://www.libelreform.org/sign